Credit Cards

Strongest quake in 40 years rattles Midwest (Reuters)

Reuters - A 5.2 magnitude earthquake centered in southeast Illinois that was the strongest in the Midwest in 40 years startled residents before dawn on Friday, but officials reported no injuries and only minor damage.

Most people make purchases through their cards. It is so convenient to use. You don't have to bring bulk of cash in order to make huge acquisitions. But we have to keep in mind that our credit cards contain valuable personal information which can be stolen and cause our nightmare.

Thieves can use the information stolen in two ways. They can open a new credit card and register it under your name, giving you the burden of paying for it while they do the shopping. Another is stealing your card and for them to use it as their own, unless you report it immediately, the thief will enjoy using it.

There are signs that a card is not legitimate. Because of this, personnel or sales clerks processing the payment should watch out for signs of fraudulent card payments. A card may be bad if the person using it cannot show any other identification. A thief may not have any other identification similar to the information appearing on the credit card. Another signal is that the fraudster will not usually sign the charge slip because there is usually a specimen signature of the real owner on the back side of the card. Different signature means he is not the real owner of the card.

Fortunately, there are ways on how to protect your credit cards. One is to always keep your cards close. Don't leave it unattended in a public place. In the workplace for example, you may not know it but an identity thief may be in the next workstation. Don't leave it in your vehicle either. Because thieves will surely find ways to get hold of it.

Always protect your Personal Identification Number or PIN and security code. Don't write this information down because the hardcopies of identification can be misplaced and may land on a culprit's hands. Secure it when you're traveling as well.

Once you made a purchase, check the card immediately when returned to you. Make sure that it is your card. You should also check the device use in accessing your card because it can be a skimming device. Credit card skimming is also becoming a worldwide problem as a method of getting hold of your personal information. The best way to avoid this is to use your card at reputable stores duly operating with full licenses and business permits.

In case a credit card is missing despite diligent efforts to find it, immediately report it. Stolen or lost cards should be blocked to prevent the thief from using it. Reporting of such cards is easier when you have a list of your card and their identification numbers filed in a secure place. Remember to list down the contact phone number or hotline of your card company too.

It is also very helpful for you to check the billing statement regularly. You will easily identify unauthorized purchases this way. If you are able to find any, report them to the card company right away. And be careful to whom you give your card number especially when on the phone. Give information only to reputable organizations. It is important that you have the right information of the person on the other line since it's your account that is at stake. One mistake and it may cause you a fortune.

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posted by fdwvsmr66464 @ 9:47 PM 0 comments

Philadelphia suburbs hold key to Pa. primary (AP)

AP - To bisect the heart of the Democratic presidential contest, take the Chester exit of I-95 and wend your way to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. If Barack Obama has any chance of cultivating an upset on April 22, this 20-mile stretch is fertile land.

Prepaid credit cards have been around for some time now but only recently have credit card issuers been promoting this product to the youth market. In the past couple of years many advertisements have emerged depicting a teen who has empowered himself by obtaining a prepaid MasterCard or Visa. We have also seen some of the prepaid credit cards feature images pop stars Usher and Hillary Duff. The line of marketing is clearly aimed at our youth, the question is will this make a positive or negative impact in their financial well being.

Plastic is the currency of the world we live in today. Without a credit card you are definitely going to feel the burn of being restricted in your spending. Do you want to rent a vehicle? Rent a movie? Almost anywhere you rent anything from now requires a credit card for the business owners security. Do you want to make purchases online? Although there are other options for payment online, credit cards are still the most widely accepted form of currency by far.

Originally Prepaid credit cards were designed for adults who could not obtain a traditional credit card due to having either no or poor credit history. Some of the cards actually have credit rebuilding features that report to the credit bureaus regularly. These same cards can be a valuable asset to our youth. Chances are our children will never use a checkbook so why not teach them how to use and manage a credit card from the beginning.

They are like credit cards wrapped in a life preserver. Your teen cannot damage their credit history with a prepaid credit card. The credit limit on the card is determined by the amount of money they have already loaded onto the card from their bank account. This gives them then chance to learn how a credit card it truly supposed to be used instead of falling into the trap many adults do, spending money that they dont have.

The issue of should my teenager have their own credit card can only be answered by those teens parents. If you have decided that you want your teen to have a credit card take the following into consideration. Holding a credit card will give your teen more freedom. Review several credit card applications with your son or daughter. Ensure the credit card that you apply for has safety features such as allowing you to monitor spending. Always read the terms and conditions in the credit card application carefully.

Bryan Dufresne - Freelance writer based in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
http://www.cardpick.net

posted by fdwvsmr66464 @ 9:11 AM 0 comments